"We are called to be women. The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of woman. For I have accepted God's idea of me, and my whole life is an offering back to Him of all that I am and all that He wants me to be."
Elisabeth Elliot

"Being in the presence of a gracious woman is like being drawn into a circle where everything is fresher, cleaner; where there is peace, warmth, comfort. Her smile is occasional rather than constant, making one want to bring it back. The gracious woman puts a man on trial in the sense that she produces in him the desire to be his best."
Alec Waugh, modified slightly

"A gracious woman is never petty or petulant- rather she is one who is genuinely interested in people and activities. Graciousness gives an automatic radiance that magnetizes and, to my way of thinking, is the true essence of beauty. Instead of fading with the passage of time, the graciousness of a personality grows with the years."
Enid Haupt, modified slightly

"Being a woman created by God is such a privilege- and the gift of our femininity is something we can give both to ourselves and to the people around us. Just one flower, one candle, can warm up a cold, no-nonsense atmosphere with an aura of ‘I care.' Women have always had the ability to transform an environment, to make it comfortable and inviting. I believe we should rejoice in that ability and make the most of it... The spirit of femininity is so many things... It is people accepted and nurtured, loveliness embraced and shared. More important, the spirit of femininity is the spirit of care and compassion. In my mind, the most feminine woman is one with an eye and ear for others, and a heart for God."
Emilie Barnes